The Perfect Tail Braid

For supplies, just as with mane braiding you will need a bucket, sponge, scissors, pull-through, 2-12' and one 3' length of matching yarn and a stepstool. Start with a clean and knot-free tail. Scrub the roots of the hair at the dock to get rid of excess grease and scurf, and use Show Sheen or a similar de-tangler on the bottom of the tail only. Depending on the horse's height, you will most likely need to stand on a stool to achieve a comfortable position at which to braid - ideally, with your arms low in front of you (similar to your hand position when riding). Professional braider Sierra Sneath suggests a trick-of-the-trade to protect tail hairs from breakage at the top of the dock. “I put small braids in the top of a lot of my tails. You want them to be small and braided so they angle toward…